So on the SRI's facebook page they posted the 1225 was brought to 125psi in a partial hydro test. This is great news as they are getting near the completion of her rebuild and plan to have her pull the North Pole Express trains this November and December.
My questions is how is the test done? Is a fire bult in her fire box? Done by water only? What does the test indicate? Just no holes in the boiler?
Thanks for the answers.
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You do use a fire to get the water up to betwen 70 and 120 degrees.
A hydro is done simply by hooking up a pump with a hose to a water supply, hooking the other end to the engine's blowdown valve, intalling a bleeder up on the steam dome (to let air out) and filling the boiler with water. When it squirts out of the bleeder valve, shut it, and keep pumping till you get to the pressure you want.
When done, you can see things like leaks, etc. without the fear that the thing will explode. You also climb in the firebox and do a "hammer test" on each and every staybolt; check for leaks of the fusible plugs, etc.
You do the same thing to the air tanks, and hammer test them as well.
So on the SRI's facebook page they posted the 1225 was brought to 125psi in a partial hydro test.
That is a bit odd if they are actually doing their FRA mandated hydro test, as the FRA requires that the official hydro test be conducted at 125% of the designed working boiler pressure, and the FRA must be present to witness the event.
On the other hand, maybe they are just "squeezing" her a little bit, in order to look from preliminary leaks.
So on the SRI's facebook page they posted the 1225 was brought to 125psi in a partial hydro test.
That is a bit odd if they are actually doing their FRA mandated hydro test, as the FRA requires that the official hydro test be conducted at 125% of the designed working boiler pressure, and the FRA must be present to witness the event.
On the other hand, maybe they are just "squeezing" her a little bit, in order to look from preliminary leaks.
Thats what they said. Looking for preliminary leaks. They plan to do a full test at 125% next week
You never want to do the FIRST squeeze with FRA inspectors there. Squeeze it, find the leaks, fix them, THEN set up the "official" test with the FRA present to witness the test.
S.O.P.
Awesome! This is great news. I will have to get my tickets ordered this year!
From what I gathered from their facebook page is they were looking for leaks and found a few. Better find them now then when the real test comes.
Steam Railroading InstituteCorrect it was 1225's partial hydro in 4 yrs we took it to 125 lbs to see what we have in leaks. We are hoping to take it up to a full hydro next week. We would do it this week but everybody is gone the rest of the week and we have some private charter we are doing.
Great news to hear, they are approaching the finish line....hopefully with big smiles.
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